Volume II: Filmography

THE MAN'S SIN

April 20, 1916 (Thursday)

Length: 3 reels

Character: Drama; Than-O-Play

Scenario: Philip Lonergan

Cast: Nellie Parker Spaulding (elderly spinster), Grace DeCarlton (her niece; and in a separate role as her niece's daughter), Edwin Stanley (young doctor), Daniel Leighton (businessman), Ethyle Cooke (his wife), Isolde Illian (their daughter)

Note: Several erroneous titles, including A Man's Sins and A Man's Sin, appeared in various trade publications. In Great Britain the film was publicized under the title A Man's Sin.

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, April 15, 1916:

"Sociologists who declaim against one code of morals for men and another for women, offer many terse arguments in favor of an equal moral standardization. No sociological argument, however, has ever been presented which depicts the unfairness of woman's position in society as does the gripping Thanhouser-Mutual three-part psychological drama, The Man's Sin, with Grace DeCarlton and Edwin Stanley in the leading roles. The story is a vivid characterization of a man who, in his early youth, wrongs a girl who loves him, but suffers for his sin in the later years of his life. His nemesis is an aunt of the girl he wronged and who died when the child was born. The girl was raised by the aunt ignorant of her father, and when she reaches young womanhood she becomes a trained nurse. Her father had married years before, and had a daughter near her own age. One day the father is injured in an automobile accident and brought to the hospital where his daughter nursed him.

"The aunt, who during all these years had nursed a desire for revenge, saw an opportunity to reap it upon the legitimate daughter and planned her downfall. Her plot is discovered in time to save the girl and the tangled problem is unwoven by the faithful nurse and the physician at the hospital who loves her. The man makes reparation for his youthful folly. Grace DeCarlton gives an impressive portrayal of a dual character role, first appearing as the girl wronged, and later as the grown-up daughter. Edwin Stanley makes a gallant and dashing young physician, while Daniel Leighton is a dignified father. The other members of the cast are excellent in their roles."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, April 29, 1916:

"A three-reel number, written by Philip Lonergan, featuring Grace DeCarlton, Daniel Leighton, and others. The story has a strong sex interest, but it's handled in an acceptable way. The plot shows the ruin of a young girl by a man who refuses to marry her. The girl baby is born and the mother dies. Later the child grows up and becomes a trained nurse. She is engaged to care for her father, who has a wife and another daughter. The plan of the spinster aunt to gain revenge for the wrong done her niece by accomplishing the ruin of the legitimate daughter is outwitted by the nurse. This contains some unpleasantness, but holds the interest. Miss DeCarlton does pleasing work in the double role."

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